Toronto police say the use of social networking site Facebook in the Stefanie Rengel case highlights the futility of imposing publication bans and that something needs to be done to update the law. Rengel, 14, died New Year's Day from stab wounds.
Under restrictions imposed by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, media outlets were banned from identifying either the victim or two teenagers accused in the girl's death. On Thursday, police released Rengel's name after obtaining the consent of her parents, as required by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Despite the ban, all three identities, including pictures, are being freely posted on Facebook, which is against the law.
Police and legal experts are concerned that those actions might affect the right to a fair trial for a teenaged boy and girl charged in Rengel's death.
FULL STORY
Should laws be changed to make Facebook and other social networking sites conform to publication bans?
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Under restrictions imposed by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, media outlets were banned from identifying either the victim or two teenagers accused in the girl's death. On Thursday, police released Rengel's name after obtaining the consent of her parents, as required by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Despite the ban, all three identities, including pictures, are being freely posted on Facebook, which is against the law.
Police and legal experts are concerned that those actions might affect the right to a fair trial for a teenaged boy and girl charged in Rengel's death.
FULL STORY
Should laws be changed to make Facebook and other social networking sites conform to publication bans?
More...